State Sen. Don Balfour told his colleagues Monday that he was humbled and ready to move forward “beyond this event,” as they began this year’s legislative session.

“Trust can be restored, but there should be a line between political gamesmanship and trying to take someone’s liberties away from them,” Balfour said.

The Snellville Republican was acquitted last month on 18 felony counts that he claimed expense reimbursement he was not entitled to. Prior to his trial, Gov. Nathan Deal had suspended him from office.

Balfour had also been temporarily kicked out of the chamber’s Republican caucus and stripped of his committee leadership posts until a jury found him not guilty on all counts.